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League of
Women Voters Positions
in Support
of Majority Rule, Full Representation and/or Instant
Runoff Voting
January
2003
The League of Women Voters has a
long tradition of careful study and consensus building prior to
taking positions. For example, The Washington League conducted a
three-year study with two excellent election system reports, and the
Vermont League participated in a citizens� commission created by the
Vermont House of Representatives, which issued a final report recommending instant
runoff voting for all statewide elections. Part of this process
often involves circulating information and then asking for responses
to a series of �consensus questions� to promote thoughtful debate
and thorough consideration by all members. For example, the Vermont League circulated IRV consensus questions
prior to taking their position in
favor of such reform in 1999.
The League of Women Voters of the United States
adopted a study of electoral systems at its convention in June 2000
and has been seeking funding to conduct it among its many hundreds
of state and local branches.
Here are the positions adopted by
Washington State, California and Vermont Leagues, as well as by several local
Leagues in California.
Washington State League of Women Voters (May
2002)
�Supports the concept of a majority vote requirement
for winners of single offices such as mayor or governor, as long as
it is achieved using a voting method such as the Instant Runoff
Vote, rather than a second, separate runoff election.�
Vermont State League of Women Voters (1999)
�In accordance with the League of Women Voters�
position of promoting political responsibility through informed and
active participation of citizens in government, the League of Women
Voters of Vermont supports Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) for all
single seat statewide elections to assure that the candidate
preferred by a majority of voters wins the election.�
California State League of Women Voters (May 2002)
"We support the concept of a majority
vote requirement for winner of single offices such as Mayor or Governor, as long as it is
achieved using a voting method such as the instant runoff vote rather than a
second, separate runoff election "
Pasadena (November
1999)
�Advocacy of instant runoff voting for single seat
elections.�
El Dorado County, CA League of Women Voters
(2000)
Adopted the Pasadena position by
concurrence
Berkeley-Albany-Emoryville (September
2000)
�
�Instant runoff voting� should be used in all elections
involving more than two candidates for a single
position.�
Oakland (January 2003)
Adopted the Berkeley-Albany-Emeryville
position by concurrence. |
